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Technology protectionism and the patent system: Evidence from China

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  • Gaetan de Rassenfosse

    (Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne)

  • Emilio Raiteri

    (Eindhoven University of Technology)

Abstract

Governments have strong incentives to allow their inventors to free ride on foreign technologies. They can achieve this result by discriminating against foreigners in the patent system--by refusing to grant foreigners a patent for their inventions. International patent law treaties forbid this practice, which may lower the global innovation incentives and may hurt international trade. Using data on half a million inventions submitted to the Chinese patent office, we find robust evidence of anti-foreign bias in the issuance of patents in 'strategic' technology areas. Foreigners are about 50 percent more likely to be refused a strategic patent than locals.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaetan de Rassenfosse & Emilio Raiteri, 2020. "Technology protectionism and the patent system: Evidence from China," Working Papers 11, Chair of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:iip:wpaper:11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Minyuan Zhao, 2020. "China’s intellectual property rights policies: A strategic view," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(1), pages 73-77, March.
    2. Büttner, Benjamin & Firat, Murat & Raiteri, Emilio, 2022. "Patents and knowledge diffusion," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    3. de Rassenfosse, Gaétan & Grazzi, Marco & Moschella, Daniele & Pellegrino, Gabriele, 2022. "International patent protection and trade: Transaction-level evidence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. de Rassenfosse, Gaétan & Pellegrino, Gabriele & Raiteri, Emilio, 2024. "Do patents enable disclosure? Evidence from the invention secrecy act," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    5. Elise Petit & Bruno van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie & Lluis Gimeno-Fabra, 2022. "Global patent systems: Revisiting the national bias hypothesis," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 56-67, March.
    6. Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Reza Hosseini, 2020. "Discrimination against foreigners in the U.S. patent system," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(4), pages 349-366, December.
    7. Liu, Duan & Wang, Qiuhong & Wang, Aidi & Yao, Shujie, 2023. "Export profitability and firm R&D: on China's export diversification under trade war," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 151-166.
    8. Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Emilio Raiteri & Rudi Bekkers, 2023. "Discrimination in the Patent System: Evidence from Standard-Essential Patents," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 66(4), pages 739-763.
    9. Tatiana N. Litvinova & Nodira B. Abdusalomova & Tatiana A. Dugina & Igor V. Denisov, 2024. "Change Management Based on Smart Technologies for Sustainable Business Development," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(1), pages 17-30, September.
    10. Li Yao & He Ni, 2023. "Prediction of patent grant and interpreting the key determinants: an application of interpretable machine learning approach," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(9), pages 4933-4969, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    industrial policy; national treatment principle; patent; technology protectionism; TRIPS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • K11 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Property Law
    • F52 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - National Security; Economic Nationalism

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